The International 2025 Group Stage Overview: Format, Schedule and Favorites

The International 2025 – the main tournament of the year will start on September 4 and bring a true celebration of esports. This year’s event will begin with the Group Stage, which will last from September 4-7 and will be held in a new format. 16 of the world’s strongest teams will clash in the Road to The International battles to prove who deserves the Aegis of Champions and a significant prize pool. In this blog, we will provide an overview of The International 14 Group Stage, talk about the first matches, the stage format, and what fans can expect.

TI 2025 Group Stage Format

The International was traditionally held in a Swiss-system format, with teams divided into groups and playing matches against each other. This year, the format of this stage has been slightly changed: all 16 teams will play in one group. Each of them will have 5 matches in Bo3 format, and to advance to the playoffs, 4 victories are required, while 3 are enough to reach the Elimination Stage.

The Elimination Stage is an intermediate phase between the Group Stage and the playoffs. It features the teams that placed from 4th to 13th, with 5 teams joining the top 3 in the fight for the championship, while the remaining teams are eliminated from the tournament.

Such a format adds more unpredictability to the matches, as every team has a higher chance of facing a strong opponent already in the Group Stage.

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First Matches of The International 14

On September 4, all the matches of the first round of The International 2025 Group Stage will take place, here is the schedule:

Winning the first match is a great chance to secure a good position, so every team will demonstrate their best level of play. We recommend following our The International 2025 page so you don’t miss any exciting moments from the tournament.

Teams Favorites in Group Stage TI 2025

The first-round schedule has made it clearer who the favorites are for victory and advancement to the next stage. Among the 16 teams, we have picked 5 that, in our opinion, have the highest chances for success in the Group Stage.

• Team Spirit – the obvious favorite is the TI 2021 and TI 2023 champions, one of the strongest Dota 2 teams in recent years. In the first round, they will face Wildcard, one of the outsiders of TI 2025. Team Spirit shows remarkable stability this year, finishing in the top-4 in 8 out of 10 tournaments, including winning DreamLeague Season 25 and EWC 2025.
• Team Falcons – this team was already among the favorites, but their chances to reach the playoffs increased even more, as they will play against Nemiga, TI debutants, in the first round. Team Falcons has strong financial support, a powerful roster, and recently took silver at EWC 2025.
• PARIVISION – one of the biggest sensations of the current Dota 2 season, but in the first round, they face a tough opponent – HEROIC. In 2025, PARIVISION broke into the list of top teams and secured many wins, including bronze at EWC 2025 and victory at ESL One Raleigh 2025.
• Team Liquid – the reigning The International champions and one of the strongest contenders for this year’s title. In the first round, they will face BOOM Esports, considered one of the underdogs of the tournament. It’s worth noting that Team Liquid shows their best results specifically at LAN tournaments, which is a strong advantage at The International.
• Tundra Esports – the bronze medalists of TI 2024. The team is regarded as one of the favorites, but replacing Whitemoon with Tobi before the tournament may bring some adjustments. This season they have shown a high level of play, excellent adaptability to opponents’ strategies, and remain among the main contenders for the title. Among their key achievements this year are victories at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 1, BLAST Slam II, and BLAST Slam III.

These teams have the most chances to win, but it is not worth excluding that other teams can also show a high level of play and make a sensation.

What to Expect from The International 2025

TI is more than just a competition for the championship title and a huge prize pool – it is a true celebration of Dota 2. This year’s event is set to continue that tradition, with exciting matches expected right from the Group Stage. The prize pool, which has already surpassed $2.3 million and continues to grow, will add even more motivation for the teams. Very soon, we will find out who will confirm their status as a favorite and who will become the true sensation in the opening matches of TI 2025.